First week out

Hermana Valladares

View from my 18th story window!

My address

Hermana Maddison Showalter

Misión Chile Santiago Este 

Cristóbal Colón 6824

Region Metropolitana

Las Condes Santiago Chile

Well I am now in the field and WOW the CCM did not prepare me for this. No more classes and breaks. I am in the real world. Good news two more people thought I look Chilean and then I spoke... That makes a total of three people.  Leaving the CCM was really hard but it was time. My trainer Hermana Valladares is awesome. She is from Honduras and is 25 years old. She was a dentist before her mission and has four sisters. My mission president said is is one of the best missionaries out in the field and to learn from her. She is amazing and so hard working. I want to be just like her. I am not going to lie, this week was pretty hard for me. I felt like I was riding a roller coaster, I had some highs and some lows. I love this gospel so much. We have one investigator Madelaena who just prayed to know if the restoration happened and she said that she knows it is true. Miracles are unfolding in front of my eyes. The language is hard but everyday I am improving. However my English is getting worse. I am in Trinidad and there are 230 people in the ward with 6 sister missionaries. We all live together in an apartment on the 18th floor. At times it is a little crowed but they are super awesome. 2 of them are gringos so I get to speak English. The food here is so delicious. The members feed us lunch and we don't eat dinner because the lunch is so much. I have been humbled, one member who fed us had her house insulated by cardboard and packing tape. Feeding us was not easy for her but she did it willingly. I am blessed to be able to serve these people. 

Love always,

Hermana Showalter

This is another shorter letter, she wrote in response to some questions I had: 

Asthma is fine.

Here is a basic schedule:

wake up at seven thirty

exercise

get ready

studying until 1

lunch around 2

out in the field until 10

bed at 11:30

The food is so yummy for the most part but so much. Don't worry I bring containers so I don't have to eat it all. I miss normal tasting water. I broke down and bought bottled water today.

I wouldn't be opposed to a package with some treats...

I'm glad you are doing well. Miss you lots. No i didn't take Mallory's jacket. That was a great letter from Elder Knudson.  Yes, send me pics. Keep me in your prayers. This week was really hard for me. There were times where I just wanted to go home but I am going to tough it out. I love you with my whole heart. Don't worry the members and my companions are taking good care of me.

They pronounce my name cho waltar

Love always,

Hermana Showalter

CCM Pictures

 Here are some fun pictures Maddie sent today. These were taking while she was in the CCM for 2 weeks.

This is where I am!

Hermana Delgado and I

Las Gringas in the CCM

My roomies at the CCM:
Hermana Delgado,
Hermana Carlson from Michigan, the only other gringa in the 2 week program and
Hermana La Serna from Peru

Chile flag

Elder Furlanich & Rios with Hermana Carlson and me!

District 2

A short letter...

Maddie with President and Hermana Wright

Got a surprise email today! Maddie had said she wouldn't be able to write but got one and I was grinning from ear to ear.  Here it is:

Mom, Dad, Mallory, Ross, Micah & Tatum,

Well , my mission has finally begun.  The past 2 weeks at the CCM went so fast.  My new companion is Hermana Valladares.  She is super awesome.  I look forward to getting to work & serving with her. I promise next week I will send pictures and tell you all about my 2nd week in the CCM and my first week in the field.  I love it here and I'm so happy I chose to go on a mission.  Hope all is well at home.  The language is coming along. The gift of tongues is real.  I know with my whole heart that this church is true and that the gospel brings us true joy.  Thank you for raising me in the church.  Because I have been given much I too must give.

Love, 
Hermana Showalter

The First week at the CCM (MTC)!

Its crazy to think how much time has gone by.

Well Hermana Pulson and I arrived a day later than everyone. Apparently the people who schedule our trip made a mistake but it is all good. We got in Thursday(12th) morning took a shower and went straight into classes. It was a long day. I'm here at the CCM (MTC) in Chile with 48 other missionaries. My companion is Hermana Delgado and she is from Peru. She is so patient with me especially when my Spanish isn't the best. The classes are all in Spanish and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I understand everything and I can participate and sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode. Hermana Carlson is the only other gringo with me who will only be in CCM for 2 weeks, the others will be in 6 weeks. She really understands me. I pray everyday for God to give my strength. I have improved so much, full immersion in the language really is the best way to learn. One teacher even thought I was from Chile, not because I spoke well though... he thought I looked like a Chilean. Which is pretty cool. The classes are great but sometimes it is frustrating because I can´t share my insights, One highlight was we played big booty in class! My teacher knew it so we taught the Latinos how to play. Also the Americans are teaching some English to the Latinos. It is pretty funny to see the roles reversed for a change.  All the Latinos actually think I am pretty funny (which is a nice change from back home). We get to go the temple today which I live right next to. I am so excited but a little nervous.The food here is amazing!!!!! But I am missing my mom´s cooking. President Doll, the CCM president and his wife are awesome I love them. Every morning we get to walk to a park to exercise. I love it. The Elders and a few of the Hermanas play sports. We have played soccer, basketball and kickball. It is my favorite part of the day but it is really hard to play without contact. I saw James!!!!!!! Yesterday he was in the comedor(dining room). I ran up and almost gave him a hug. He has a picture so I imagine Sister Slazak will have it. I started crying. Seeing him made me pretty homesick and the rest of the day was hard. He looks great and is even training a missionary. I´m so proud of him. We had family home evening on Sunday and Sister Doll made really good cookies while we played a game. The mission is so much fun but it is so hard at times. But when I first got here I felt the spirit so strong and I got a conformation that I needed to be here. This is where I am supposed to be. My days are emotional roller coasters but when I go to bed each night I feel true joy. In the CCM our p days are Tuesdays but I won´t be able to write to you guys next week because I´m already going out into the field. I wish I could write to all of you separately but I only have an hour to read and write to you all. I want you all to know how much I love you. Please keep me in your prayers because sometimes I struggle. 

love Hermana Showalter

Hola from Chile!

Hola from Chile!

I got to Chile! It´s sooooo beautiful here and hot! At the Atlanta airport I met up with another sister missionary, Sister Pulson. She was really nice and we got to sit next to each other on the plane. The plane was long.The guy who picked us up spoke no English and between Melissa and I, I spoke the most Spanish. So I was playing translator.  Got to the MTC here called the CCM. We got to shower really quickly and send off an email. I got my name tags which I´m super excited about. I can't believe I´m actually here! I love you all so much and I promise to write so much more later. This had to be quick. Love you. Be good and make a good day.​

​This is one of many more to come.

love

Hermana Showalter​

The Next Chapter

Hey everyone!

This Wednesday I'm off to Chile for the next 18 months. I will be serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be serving in the Chile Santiago East Mission. I would love to hear from you. You can email me at maddison.showalter@myldsmail.net or if you would like to send me snail mail (which would be really cool...) my mailing address is:
Sister Maddison Lou Showalter
Chile Santiago East Mission
Chile Missionary Training Center
Pedro de Valdivia 1423
Santiago Region Metropolitana
Chile
*This will only be my address for my first two weeks and then I will be moving.  Also you can send packages but not until after I leave the training center.

Mallory and my mom will be keeping this blog up to date with my emails, stories and pictures.
Thank you for all your love and support. See you in 18 months!

Love

Maddie